Toothbrush



June 13, 1961 E, CAPPS 2,987,743

TOOTHBRUSH Filed April 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @cg 1 5 i f^ JNVENToR.

fla-R5 T T ya PP 5 BY ww E. CAPPS TOOTHBRUSH June 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .NN www United States Patent O Y 2,987,743 p TGOTHBRUSH 'Everett Capps, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Richard D. Martin, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Apr. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 731,550 3 Claims. (Cl. 132-84) The present invention relates -to an improved toothbrush. This application is a continuation in part of prior application, Serial No. 409,719, tiled February 11, 1954.

Itis an object of this invention to provide a toothbrush wherein toothpaste may be stored therein and dispensed therefrom.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for controlling the dispensing of toothpaste.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation partially in section of a toothbrush embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevation in section.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation in section illustrating the valve means in the dispensing position.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation in section of -a mod ied form of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 6 with certain parts removed.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary section illustrating flow of toothpaste through the device.

FIGURE 9 is a view taken along line 9-9 of FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a view taken along line 10-10 of FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE ll is a view taken along line 11-11 of FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 12 is a view taken along line 12--12 of FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective View of the valve means.

FIGURE 14 is a further perspective view of the valve means.

FIGURE l5 is a perspective view of the valve element.

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of the valve seat and support with parts broken away.

The toothbrush of FIGURES 1 through 5 comprises a handle 10 which has a longitudinal passage 12 therein and is internally threaded at each end. On one flared end 14, a cartridge 16 is screwed, which cartridge contains toothpaste mixed with gas under pressure, such gas being inert, such as Freon, so that when the cartridge is punctured, the expansion of the gas will cause the toothpaste to flow from the cartridge. The flared end 14 has an internal shoulder 18 which receives the flange of puncturing member 20 which has a sharpened point 22 which punctures the cartridge as it is screwed onto handle 10. The member 20 has a passage 24 therethrough permitting ow of toothpaste.

In advance of the puncturing member 20', a valve body 26 is screwed into end 14 of handle 10. The puncturing member has a projection 28 thereon which functions to center spring 30 which spring urges ball 32 into sealing relationship with the valve seat 34 formed in valve body 26.

Thus, when the cartridge 16 is screwed onto end 14, it is punctured and toothpaste ows through passage 24 into valve body 26. Further, passage is prevented by seating of ball 32 on seat 34.

ICC

Means are provided to unseat ball 32. In this embodiment, a spider 36 is mounted in a sleeve 38 and carries a projection 40 adapted to project through valve seat 34 and engage ball `32. The sleeve 38 is movable in chamber 42 from a position where projection 40 is out of contact with ball 32 to a position where the projection unseats ball 32. The position of sleeve 38 is controlled by a thumb tab 44 which has a threaded stud 46 projecting through a suitable slot in body 10 and screwing into sleeve 38. Thus, by moving thumb tab 44 rearwardly in FIGURE 2, the parts assume the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 permitting ow of toothpaste through passage 12.

Screwed into the flared extremity 4S of handle 10 is the brush member 50 which carries bristles 52 and is provided with a passage 54 communicating with passage 12 and `directing the toothpaste to a position amongst the bristles where the toothpaste is dispensed from the device.

The toothbrush of FIGURES 6 through 16 has a handle 60 which has a longitudinal passage 62 therein. On one end of the handle bristles 64 are secured. The opposite end 66 of the handle 60 is enlarged and has external threads 69 formed thereon. A brush cover 68 may enclose the bristles and handle and seat on end 66 thereof.

Passage 62 communicates with ports 70 which pierce end 66, by means of chamber 72. A removable cartridge holder 74 having an open end 76 screws onto threads 69. Prior to assembling holder on the handle, a cartridge 78 is inserted therein which contains toothpaste mixed with inert gas under pressure.

A tubular extension 80 on end 66 receives the extremity of tube 82 formed in the cartridge. Tube 82 houses valve shaft 84 carrying valve head 86. A ported valve seat 88 is rigidly mounted in tube 82 adjacent valve head 86 and supports an extremity of shaft 84.

A pair of legs 90 support the other extremity of the shaft 84 in tube S2 and spring 92 between seat 88 and legs 90 urge shaft 84 towards the outermost end of tube 82 and seat valve head S6 against seat 88, preventing flow from the cartridge.

An anvil 94 is mounted upon end 66 of handle 60 within tubular extension 80 aligned with the shaft 84. When cartridge 78 is urged forwardly by pressure of a linger thereon through hole 76, shaft 84 strikes anvil 94 unseating valve head 86 and permitting flow from the cartridge to the bristles with extension 80 snugly fitting tube 82 to prevent leakage therethrough.

While what hereinbefore has been described is the preferred vembodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self dispensing toothbrush comprising: a handle having a passage therethrough, bristle bearing means attached to one extremity of said handle having a passage therethrough communicating with said handle passage, a cartridge containing a mixture of toothpaste and gas under pressure attached to the other extremity of said handle, said other end having a cartridge attaching means for receiving said cartridge for communication with said passage, means in said passage end in said cartridge receiving extremity of said handle for puncturing said cartridge, a ball valve positioned on the opposite side of said puncturing means from said cartridge including an annular seat in said handle passage and a ball between said seat and said puncturing means and movable in the direction of ilow of said toothpaste to seat in said valve seat and to close ow through said handle, means for 3 opening .said ball valve permitting flow through said handle.

2. A self dispensing toothbrush comprising: a handle having a passage therethrough, bristle bearing means attached to one extremity of said handle having a passage therethrough communicating with said handle passage, a cartridge containing a mixture of toothpaste and Vgas under pressure attached to the other extremity of said handle, said other end having a cartridge attaching means for receiving said cartridge for communication with said passage, means in said passage end in said cartridge receiving extremity of said handle or puncturing said cartn'dge, a ball valve position on the opposite side of said puncturing means from said cartridge including an annular seat in said handle passage and a ball between said seat and said puncturing means and movable in the direction of ow of said toothpaste to seat in said valve seat and to close ow through said handle, means for opening said ball valve permitting flow through said handle, said means for opening said ball valve including a thumb tab external of said handle and valve operating means movable with said thumb tab for opening said ball valve.

3. A self dispensing toothbrush comprising: a handle having a passage therethrough, bristle bearing means -attached to one extremity of said handle having a passage therethrough communicating with said handle passage, a cartridge containing a mixture of toothpaste and gas under pressure attached to the other extremity of said hand-le, said other end having a cartridge attaching means for receiving said cartridge for communication with said passage, means in said passage end in said cartridge receiving extremity of said handle for puncturing said cartridge, a ball valve positioned qnnthe opposite side of said puncturing means fromaaid cartridge including an annular seat in said handle passage and a ball between said seat and saidjpuncturing means and movable in thedirection of flow of said toothpaste to seat in-said valve seat and to close flow through said handle, means for opening said ball valve permitting fiow through said handle, said means for opening said ball valve including a thumb tab external of said handle, valve operating .means movable'with'said thumb vtab for. opening said ball valve and spring means urging said ball valve to the normally closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 886,996 Loring May 5, 1908 1,358,523 Cook d Nov. 9, 1920 2,006,289 Andvig June 25, 1935 2,764,772 Staskowski Oct. 2, 1956 2,806,238 Wisey Sept. 17, 1957 2,814,816 Pepping Dec. 3, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 445,926 Germany n Sept. 21, 1927 832,415 France July 4, 1938 

